Creating beauty from tragedy: RTD rehabs US 36•McCaslin Station Park-n-Ride after Marshall Fire
More than three years after the Marshall Fire devastated parts of Boulder County, RTD’s US 36•McCaslin Boulevard Station Park-n-Ride has been restored, not just to its original condition, but with renewed focus on resilience and climate-conscious design.
The fire, which began on Dec. 30, 2021, spread rapidly due to extreme winds, causing it to jump highways and cut through residential areas. Though there was no major structural damage to the Park-n-Ride itself, the landscape was severely impacted. Trees and shrubs were scorched, sprinkler heads melted and the irrigation system was rendered unusable.
RTD Landscape Architect and Urban Designer Liz Barr, who inherited the project after the retirement of her predecessor, described the site as a “lunar landscape” when she began work on Oct. 21, 2024.
“It really did look desolate,” she said. “The town of Superior was understandably eager to see the space come back to life.”
Working alongside Construction Engineer Caitlin Arnold, the team oversaw a full replacement of the irrigation system including all in-ground components, wiring and controllers. Damaged trees were removed and replaced. The team also incorporated fire-wise design strategies using materials that encompassed rock mulch, cobble and drought-tolerant plants such as oak trees, elms, yarrow and panicum.
“Not much in the landscape is truly fireproof,” Barr said, “but we wanted to be thoughtful about the climate reality we are living in. That meant choosing materials and designs that are more resistant to fire, while still creating a space that feels welcoming.”
A major focus was on improving pedestrian comfort and cooling the urban environment.
“It gets brutally hot out there,” Barr explained. “So even though trees may not survive a future fire, their shade is essential for making the space comfortable. We have made sure that healthy soil volumes and a working irrigation system to give them the best chance at thriving.”
The rebuilding also came with some unexpected opportunities. Contractors found crumbling curbs that could have impacted the longevity of the landscaping.
“We were able to repair those curbs while we had the crew on site,” Arnold said. “It gave us a chance to make the site more maintainable.”
While there is no way to fully protect a space from wildfire, the McCaslin project serves as a case study for RTD as it considers how to build more resilient infrastructure systemwide.
“We are definitely looking at this as a model,” Barr said. “Every new design will be shaped by what we have learned here.”
For the people who use this Park-n-Ride, the improvements are both practical and symbolic, a reminder that even in the face of destruction recovery is possible, and that public spaces can be rebuilt to serve communities more safely.